Huntingdon’s Northbridge development should revert to Plan A

IN 2001, the HDC Local Plan was for a low density development on Ermine Street of 675 dwellings (“Thumbs down for plans amid traffic chaos fears,” November 17).

On October 7, 2002, the Stukeleys Parish Council voted against the building of some 700 houses on Ermine Street between Great Stukeley and Huntingdon.

Since 2002, newly-built and planned housing estates in Huntingdonshire have complied with the ‘social-engineering’ Government guidelines that restrict the number of car parking spaces to 1.5 per household. In accordance with these guidelines, the original plan of 675 houses has been increased to over 1,000 – that is from low to high-density housing.

These social-engineering Government guidelines, intended to reduce car usage, have failed.

We are now faced with the ludicrous situation of new estate roads and pavements crowded or blocked by illegally parked vehicles. This is despite HDC claiming that, in terms of parking, it is becoming more astute in designing layouts that ensure planned parking is convenient but still does not dominate the street.

E-Cops have sent out an e-mail that reads: “Can I remind everyone that it is an offence to park on the footpath and it may result in a penalty notice fine being issued.”

A plea has gone out to motorists from Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) urging them to stop parking on pavements – the principal cause of CCC having had to pay compensation claims totalling £2.9 million.

Developers are not permitted to provide adequate parking, police cannot afford to uphold the law and councils cannot afford to pay for repair of roads and pavements.

Not counting the cost, this situation generates unnecessary worry, inconvenience, delay and frustration for householders, visitors, service and emergency vehicles – in other words misery for many.

In light of the above I suggest that HDC reduce the planned development from over 1,000 dwellings to the original low-density figure of 675, and that Huntingdon’s MP, Jonathan Djanogly takes steps to rescind the social-engineering Government guidelines that restrict the number of car parking spaces to 1.5 per household.